Absalom b



A. B. EARLE.

Straw Cutter.

Patented Aug. 22, 1854.-

Y U TE.

s'rarns f STRAW-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 11,548 dated August 22, 1854.

To all whom it may concern j Be it known that I, ABsALoM BHEARLE, ofFranklin, in the county of Delaware and State of New York, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Straw-Gutters,-

of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which makes part ofthis specification, and in which the force thus accumulated in thespring,

thereby lessening to a great degree the labor of the operator.

My improvement further consists in making the hinges adjustable on whichthe arms turn that carry the chopping knife, so that the latter may withgreater case be kept in the proper position relative to the fixed knife.i

My invention further consists in combining with the arms that carry theknife a pair of handles, so that the operator may stand on either sideof the machine, and may increase or diminish at will the arc of thevibration of the knife to vary the force of its blow according to thequantity of straw in the box, so that whether it be much or little, thelabor of the operator does not vary materially for when the arc ofvibration is increased the frequency of the strokes is correspondinglydiminished, and vice versa. The force of the blow is varied by simplyvarying the length of the arc of vibration of the knife.

In the accompanying drawing, (A) represents the frame, (B) the feedingbox or trough, (C) the fixed knife, and the movable knife which issecured toa stock or cross head (F), mounted on the front ends of a pairof arms (G). The arms (G) extend back from the cross head, and areattached to hinges (I) the upper ends of the posts. (H) of the frame.They operate the chopping knife (E) and form the radii of the arc of itsvibration. The rear leaf of each hinge on secured to which the armsturn, has ascrew shank (a) projecting horizontallyfrom it, through thepost (H), and on its end, is fitted a nut 0 whereby the movable knifecan be adjusted with the greatest nicety. Then the arms which carry theknife have been adjusted, they may be clamped to the top rails, by meansof screws (6) the shanks of which pass through slots in the rear leaf ofeach hinge. The arms are situated directly over the rails (J) andadjacent to the sides of the trough by which they are guided laterally.

Beneath each rail, (J) a strong spring (K) is secured. This spring maybe made of wood or tempered steel. The front or free end of each springis connected with a buffer (L) which projects upward through an openingin the rail adjacent to the front post. The spring tends constantly topush the buffer upward. When the arms (Gr) descend with the knife, theystrike upon the buffers about the time the knife has cut through thestraw, and the springs yielding, the buffers descend a distanceproportioned to the momentum with which the arms strike them. Theinstant the momentum of the knife and arms has been overcome by theelastic power of the spring, the latter will rebound,jand returns allthe force with which it was compressed, to aid in raising the knifeagain. The arms (G) have handles (M) attached to them near their frontends, by either of which the operator may vibrate the knife, and(whereby he can control its motion t increase or diminish the force ofthe blow according to the quantity of straw to be cut. If the box befull, then the arc of motion of the knife must be increased so that theforce or momentum de veloped by the descent of the knife shall besuflicient to out through the straw, without requiring pressure to beapplied by the operatorl By thus mounting the knife upon a pair ofhinged arms fitted with a handle on each side, the operator can stand oneither side of the machine and out with facility and ease. i

I make no claim to a springin straw cutters connected by. a link, chain,or otherwise to theknife, so as to retard its descent and assist 1nI'E11S1I1g it throughout its entire range of motion, as this 1s wellknown. Nor

.do I claim vibrating arms for carrying the force of the blows of theknife may be Varied in proportion to the quantity of straw to be cut,and by which the operator may work on either side of the machine atpleasure.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

A. B. EARLE.

Witnesses:

P. H. WATSON, PETER HANNAY.

